When the Rain Stopped Falling

I walked swiftly past the people that doesn't seem to care about anything else besides themselves. Who am I anyway for them to be bothered, huh? People are so narcissistic. They think that they are the center of the Universe. They think that they are the main protagonist of the story as if every people around them watches their every move, anticipates the next plot of their life, because they genuinely perceive themselves as unique just like everyone else. All of them thinks of that.

They haven't thought that other people doesn't care that much about them because those other people have their own story to follow. But I guess I am like them. Specifically at this point in time. I want someone to look at me, watch me solve my problem.

When I looked at the sky, I noticed the dark clouds that loom around the atmosphere. Rain is for sure coming. I guess the heavens decided to weep with me. Soon enough, drizzle started to pour and cold winds blew. With all the technology humans had developed, we weren't successful in predicting the weather in point-blank precision. It would be easy to say that the people who brought their umbrellas for today are either boy/girl scouts, or people who knows the future.

The downpour started to strengthen so I covered my head with my hands and jogged away to find myself some cover. I looked over the surroundings but I only saw the flurry of hurrying people desperate to find shelter. All of them, thinking all about themselves. All of them who doesn't care while I am so helpless right now being soaked by the tears of the heavens. I tried so hard not to cry for myself but the rain made me feel that it's okay and it got my back, and so I let it all go. I don't want to stand around here messed up in the middle of the traffic of people so I asked myself, "Where could I stay?"

Then I saw a waiting shed.

"Elois, we're here, " my dad nudged me using his elbows as he was trying to keep driving the car. He thinks that I'm asleep but the truth is, I'm just faking it. I decided two hours ago along the trip, that I don't want to open my eyes yet. Well not yet. "Come on Elois, this is going to be your new life, a new chapter, aren't you excited?"

I grunted. Or moaned. I actually don't know the difference. Once again he nudged me using his elbows. This time, I opened my eyes and watched him drive. He looked more excited than I am as his face was glimmering from the spotlight of the early rays of the sun.

"Dad, "

"Yes, princess?" I hate it when dad calls me princess. I'm not eight anymore. I'm already seventeen going eighteen.

"I don't want this place, " I admitted.

"Oh, Elois, how are you going to live your life if you live it like a wimp?"

"Uhm, like a wimp?"

"Elois, one day you'll have to face the world alone. You'll have to live your life in the best way you can without the help of me, or anyone else. You have to stay strong."

"But dad, look at those people. They look like animals." What I meant is how they behave not they look. And technically humans are animals too.

"Elois, that is not how you describe people that might be your peers one day, "

"One day, one day, you always say those words. One day, you'll have to do these. One day you'll have to be this. Dad, you always look up to the future."

"Oh is it because you kids want to live in the moment huh? What do you kids call it again these days? Molo?"

"Dad, it's YOLO. You-only-live-once. And it was an old thing to say, it's not cool anymore. You sound like a dinosaur when you say that, " I saw dad grimaced a little then he exhaled heavily.

"That's not the point princess. The point is, you have to look up to future because the future has a lot of surprises and one day if you do all that I say, you'll at least be less surprised and more prepared for what to come, " That didn't make any sense to me.

The car started to slow down as dad is preparing to park our car. I sat right up and watched the surroundings. Even though it is only 7 in the morning, a lot of people walked busily across the street where I would be living alone. Not just people but a lot of cars, jeepneys and tricycles are swarming in different directions. Busy as a bee, they say.

"Is it always like these in here dad?"

"This is Metro Manila, Elois. It is always like these in here. You should be surprised if this place is as calm as our home in Bulacan, "

I sighed because my mind and body suddenly gave up trying to be positive about this move. It was more like a hiss. Again, I couldn't exactly tell. Then, I remember that I have three more things to look forward to here in College. One is the beautiful house I would be staying in. I have no idea what my dormitory would look like but I am hoping that it would be nice and clean. Dad was the one that chose the place.Two, my roommate whom I wish would turn out to be my best friend for the rest of my life. And three, a potential inspiration for me like a gorgeous boy that I would fondly stare at. Not that I'm a creepy stalker, no. But I just want something colorful in this kind of life I would be living in.

"Elois, come on, we have a lot of things to do, " Dad removed his seatbelt and exited the car. I followed him outside and went straight back to the trunk of the car to help him carry my baggage. I hadn't noticed it before that I had a lot of clothes and stuff until we packed it and tried to fit it all in in the trunk of my dad's car.

As we walked toward the entrance of the dormitory, the uncanny facade of the building intrigued me. Unlike any other house along the street, it looked old and much more like the classic houses I've seen on those 80's American movies. If my observation was correct then I must say this house had been well taken care of since 10 years ago. It looked liked the typical suburban house though located in a metropolitan area. I wouldn't say that it looked chic but sure it could be regarded as decent compared to the other houses down its lane. Other building looked modern- angular, full of windows, and absolutely lack of vibrant palette of colors. My dorm looked warm and inviting like my grandma's house or our house in Bulacan. Though this dormitory is definitely bigger, more like a mansion.

When we entered the building, the first thing I noticed was the clean and classy design of the dormitory far from its undoubtedly old and rustic outside appearance. Well, I guess dormitories shouldn't be judged on the outside as well.

"Hello there, Miss Elois!" an old lady with a cheerful smile greeted me at the lobby of the dormitory. Oddly, she reminded me of the sweet old lady that takes care of Tweety Bird from the Looney tunes show. I looked at dad for confirmation though I don't exactly know what I am confirming.

"Hi Mrs. Buenas, is her unit ready?" dad answered the old lady in a lighthearted manner. I always admired dad's warmness towards people. He made everyone feel that he is their old friend. From our neighbors down to the garbage collectors in our subdivision, he all treated them as his good old buddy. I mean, he could win Mr. Congeniality in a contest.

"Yes, Mr. Browers. It was ready since you registered." Mrs. Buenas nodded. She then stood up from her seat at the front desk and started to walk away from us. I guess she's showing us the way so we followed her. We went upstairs and then Mrs. Buenas opened a room for us using a blue key card. My house at last.

Packing another surprise, my unit was more spacious than what I anticipated. It has a kitchenette by the corner, a common area to study and/or eat, and one bathroom that my future roommate and I would be sharing. I checked the bed frames so that I could pick the better one but both had the same aesthetics so choosing one wouldn't be so meaningful. The whole room had a clean apricot walls ready to hold my cute and colorful post-it notes, and a deep magenta tiled floors that are so clean and shiny that it almost showed our clear reflections. I for sure liked it but before I could enter, I saw a guy- tall with a serious look on his face checking us out. I couldn't exactly tell what he looks like since he came from the far left of the hallway where a narrow path separates our hallway together. I could only see his gaze and the outline of his face. I followed my dad quickly inside the unit and whispered to him, "Is this residence a co-ed?"

"Yes, dear. I hope it doesn't bother you?"

"Don't worry Ms. Elois, safety is our priority here. These blue key cards are very secure." Mrs. Buenas interjected. "Speaking of blue key cards, here's yours. Written on it is a backup pass pin number in case you ever forget these card you could just type it in.

I hesitantly took the blue key card from Mrs. Buenas hand and checked the backup pass. 31592, it says. Again, for a house that looked so old from the outside, this security system is legitly amazing. It is so futuristic!

I went outside the room again to check if the blue card key works but it was just a solid excuse to check out the guy from the other side of the hallway. To my surprise, he was still there peering at me.

I saw him but he pretended not to see me- the guy across the hall. I don't know about it but he seems a little creepy to me. But it would be much less of course if he would turn out to be a cute good-looking guy or if he's Zac Efron or whatever. What's peculiar about him is that his stare lingered with me for a long time that up to this time, I couldn't get over it. This is the time where curiosity gets the best of me.

Dad and I continued unpacking after we had our lunch at a local store nearby. We had ordered my favorite dish which was Kare-kare, a peanut-based stew. Once again, I had observed the surrounding to map out the possible routes I might take when going home or going to class. But like earlier, I only got dizzy with the bunch of people walking past with each other in a hurry. Well, at least, I know now where to eat when I'm starving. "So that's about it, " my dad said as he finished fixing my bed while I was about to finish transferring my clothes from my huge purple duffel bag to the wooden cabinet permanently affixed in the corner of my room. "Elois, take care of yourself here, huh? Always drink your medicine, " Dad patted my head. I looked up to him and nodded. So this is really it. I'm going to be living alone without my dad.

"Oh princess, are you crying?" dad suddenly wiped the corner of my eye surprising me a bit.

"No, dad! I'm not crying!" I argued. Sometimes dad knows exactly what I'm feeling and even what would I feel, he could already tell. He chuckled heartily until his laughter faded into silence. Dad is a very strong man but I'm not describing him physically. I think he's emotionally strong. When my mother left us, he had been so quiet about it that we only talked about it twice. He or neither have I had opened that issue again. He didn't lock himself to the world, he didn't change, and I never saw him cry, which is why I'm worried about him. He had to work harder as an elementary school teacher and fill in the duties of two parents in one. He had to be both a father and a mother to me that's why I saw him as a very strong man but that's only how I see it.

"Dad, " I hugged one of his big and chunky arms.

"Yes, princess?"

"Take care of Mimo for me, " I said solemnly. Mimo is my pet rabbit which was fascinatingly 7 years old now. I would have brought her here with me in the dormitory if pets were allowed. Dreadfully, I feel like I'm a seven-year-old girl who is about to go to school for the first time.

"Of course, " dad kissed me by the forehead and then shifted away towards the door. "I love you, Eloise. Always remember everything that I've told you, got that? Remember that I'm here for you, don't be selfish mm-kay?" For a second there, I heard dad's voice shaking as if he's fighting tears. And he wasn't looking at me when he told me that. "And if you need more than myself, you know what number to call, "

"896-9191" I answered rubbing my wrist.

"Good-bye, Elois."

I nodded goodbye. "Love you, dad, " Finally, dad went outside my new house, from my new room and I decided to walk toward the doorstep and watch him go across the hallway. His footsteps echoed throughout the empty path and it was slowly fading away until I couldn't hear it anymore. And that made me lose it. I shut the door close and went straight to my bed and sobbed like always. Crying is like my major skill in life. Unlike my dad, I'm weak. I couldn't hold my emotions down, I couldn't do that. In fact, it is the one that holds me down.

For hours, I was just quiet. I guess this is what they were saying as the adjustment period. Hell, it came to me as soon as it can touch me huh. I only stopped sulking when I noticed that my room was too dark and I needed to turn on the light. Lazily, I looked for the on the switch of the house light. After a minute or so, I found one and flicked it over. Light suddenly burst through the entire room, so bright I needed to squint my eyes to adjust. The first thing I noticed in my room was the empty bed frame adjacent to mine. I now came to wonder when would my roommate come? Or maybe I won't have any roommate. I don't know if it's sad or the entire opposite but right now I'm guessing it would be dreadful. Just the silence makes me feel so empty inside.

Quite strange, it was roughly 6:30 pm yet when I looked outside from the single window sill of my room, the place were already dark. But the colorful lights makes the streets vibrant, alive with the usual buzz people make. Suddenly something tugged right in my gut that made me want to go outside. I hear not just noise now but some music I've heard before. Could it be? Outside, there was someone playing a violin cover of a familiar song. It is an old song, I say but I can't seem to tell the actual title. I tried to hum with the symphony but it was slowly fading away and the street noise started to prevail again. Outside, I have to go outside. I walked quickly as possible as if I could catch the music and grab it but something stopped me. No, someone. When I opened my door, a guy was standing in front carrying a lot of things- things like suitcase and luggage.

"Hey new roommate, " he clumsily let go all the stuff he was carrying and he offered me his hand for a shake.

I froze.